Sacred Concord

Mbh 3.182.5

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

Vaisampayana continued, “Pandu’s son, the king of the Kuru tribe, having observed that the great saint as willing to speak, questioned him with a view to suggesting topics to speak upon, saying, ‘You who are ancient (in years), know the deeds of gods and demons, and illustrious saints, and of all the royal ones. We consider you as worthy of being worshipped and honoured; and we have long yearned after your company. And here is this son of Devaki, Krishna, who has come to us on a visit. Verily, when I look at myself, fallen away from happiness, and when I contemplate the sons of Dhritarashtra, of evil life, flourishing in every way, the idea arises in me that it is man who does all acts, good or bad, and that it is he that enjoys the fruit the acts bring forth. How then is god the agent? And, O best of those that are proficient in the knowledge of God, how is it that men’s actions follow them? Is it in this world? Or is it in some subsequent existence? And, O best of righteous men among the twice-born, in what way is an embodied animated being joined by his good and evil deeds that seek him out? Is it after death? Or is it in this world? And, O descendant of Bhrigu, is what we experience in this world the result of the acts of this very life? Or will the acts of this life bear fruit in the world to come? And where do the actions of an animated being who is dead find their resting place?”
Mbh 3.182.5 · Mahabharata · VANA PARVA

Themes in this passage

KarmaChildrenThe DivineSpeechDeathDharmaJusticeLeadership

Karma in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Taoism address it.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Psalms 126:5 · Bible · Psalms
The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.
Quran 41:34 · Quran
He whose evil deeds are covered by good deeds, brightens up this world, like the moon when freed from clouds.
Dhp 13.173 · Dhammapada · The World
The movement of the Tao By contraries proceeds; And weakness marks the course Of Tao's mighty deeds.
Tao Te Ching 40.1 · Tao Te Ching

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